Crassula rupestris stem-tip leaves

A well-juiced Crassula rupestris stem-tip living in partial shade may resort to less colour flamboyance than one battling the sun all day long.

The succulent leaves have thickly rimmed, yellowish margins contrasted to very pale green central parts that look as if they carry a whitish bloom. Darker scattered spots mottle the border areas between the two distinguishable surface parts, but only near stem-tips and only on some of the leaves in picture.

While all appears to be perfectly well with the leaves at the stem-tip, the presence of only six or seven leaf-pairs is already a sign of sacrifice to survive. C. rupestris and other plant stems often have no leaves lower down at all. The plant invests in new stem-tip growth whenever conditions allow, letting the old leaves yield their succulence for use elsewhere. The plant suboptimises not for a leaf but for the main goal, setting seed.

The dry leaf husks turn to compost on the ground, much more useful and acceptable than empty beer bottles in the veld.